Design
Preservation Fight of the Day: Islamists Attack Ancient Mosques in Timbuktu
The Ansar Dine have seized the city and hope to "destroy every mausoleum in the city — all of them, without exception."
The fabled desert city of Timbuktu, Mali, is in some trouble.
Islamist militants affiliated with the extremist group Ansar Dine have seized the city and are trashing shrines to Islamic saints and mosques. They are targeting any building that falls outside the "strict interpretation" of Islamic law. A spokesman for Ansar Dine told the BBC that the group hopes to "destroy every mausoleum in the city — all of them, without exception." This includes tombs higher than 6 inches.